Recently, Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea (VI) have launched their new voice and SMS-only prepaid plans. These telecom companies were to follow the guidelines issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in December, especially to offer affordable plans for “elderly people and people living in rural areas”. . However, these new plans are relatively expensive and these companies have changed many current recharge plans with more expensive options. Now these new voice and SMS-only plans will have to undergo TRAI test.
These plans will pass through TRAI test
TRAI has noticed Jio’s ₹ 458 and ₹ 1,958 plan, Airtel’s ₹ 499 and ₹ 1,959 recharge packs, and VI’s pack of ₹ 1,460. TRAI said in a statement, “It has come to our notice that some companies have launched voice and SMS only packs, whose information will be given to TRAI within the seven functions of the launch. These vouchers will be investigated by TRAI under the existing regulatory provisions. ”
Additional benefits in Airtel’s plans
Airtel has introduced an 84 -day validity plan with unlimited voice calls and 900 SMS in ₹ 499, while the plan of ₹ 1,959 provides unlimited voice calls and 3,600 SMS with 365 days validity. Both plans also have additional benefits under Airtel Rewards, such as three months Apollo 24/7 Circle Membership and Free Helotune Service.
In addition, if you need 4G/5G data, Airtel’s ₹ 548 recharge pack is available, in which 7GB data will be available. Airtel prepaid users will have to pay ₹ 2,249 for recharge of 365 days validity.
Jio’s new plans
Reliance Jio has also launched a ₹ 458 plan on a similar pattern, with unlimited voice calls and 1,000 SMS with 84 days validity. Earlier, 6GB 4G/5G data was also available at this price, but now Jio has removed the data bundle. Apart from this, the plan of ₹ 1,958 has 1,000 SMS and 24GB data bundle with 365 days validity.
VI’s voice and SMS only pack
Vodafone Idea (VI) currently has a voice and SMS only pack, priced at ₹ 1,460 and its validity is 270 days.
Under TRAI guidelines
The guidelines of TRAI released in December said, “Different special tariff vouchers (STVs) should be introduced for voice and SMS, so that consumers get the option to pay only those services that they The need is, and especially the elderly and people living in rural areas should benefit. ” However, if we look at the daily cost of these packs, they are economical (Jio’s ₹ 458 plan works at the rate of Rs 5.4 per day), but a user may find it difficult to recharge the small amount.
More expenses for voice, data and SMS
Although telecom companies want to tie the user base for a long time through these packs, due to overall structure, prepaid users will have to pay more for their next recharge, especially for those users who voice and SMS with data use They also recharge the pack.
Further expectations
It is expected that Airtel, Jio and VI will formally share these new voice and SMS recharge plans with TRAI in the coming days.
